Vayeira – Page 15 – Peninim on the Torah

And Hashem appeared unto him (Avraham) in Elonei Mamre . . . and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold three men stood over him and he ran to meet them . . . and he took curd and milk and the calf which he prepared and set it before them. (18:1,2,8)

The Torah’s narrative elaborates Avraham’s unparalleled performance of hachnosas orchim, hospitality to wayfarers. Indeed, many halachos regarding the proper performance of chesed, kindness, are derived from this pasuk. Rabbi A. Pam, Shlita, makes a noteworthy observation. When Avraham noticed the three strangers, he was personally in the midst of receiving the Shechinah. He was completely withdrawn from any form of physical sensation. The world of gashmius, materialism, was theoretical. When the opportunity to perform kindness surfaced, however, he immediately turned to prepare food for the guests. Nothing was spared. A sumptuous meal with all of the trimmings was prepared. Suddenly,…

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeira, 5754

For I have known him to the end that he may command his children and his household after him. (18:19)

Various means are available to infuse our children with a love for Torah and an appreciation of its mitzvos. Most of these methods are successful only under the immediate direction of the guardian or teacher. Our mission as parents and educators is to imbue our charges with such a devotion that, when the child has grown up and attained the independence which comes with adulthood, he will continue to attach importance to the teachings of parents and former teachers. Rabbi S.R. Hirsch z.t.l. explains that such obedience, which develops as the child matures, is the prime objective of all education….

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeira, 5754

On the third day, Avraham lifted up his eyes and he saw the place from afar and Avraham said to his young men, abide you here with the donkey. (22:4,5)

Chazal explain Avraham’s vision. He saw a cloud attached to the mountain. This symbolizes Hashem’s presence over the mountain, waiting for Avraham and Yitzchak’s arrival. Avraham asked Yitzchak, “Do you see what I see?” “Yes, I do,” responded Yitzchak. Avraham subsequently questioned his servants, “What do you see?” When they answered, “Nothing,” he concluded, “Since the donkey does not see, and you as well do not see, you are no better than the donkey. Therefore, stay here with the donkey.” This Midrash does not seem consistent with other Midrashim, which state that these two servants were actually Eliezer and Yishmael….

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Moshe Marcovich In Vayeira, 5754

And Avraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a ram afterwards caught in the thicket by his horns . . . and he took the ram and brought him up for a burnt-offering instead of his son. (22:13)

The Midrash states that Avraham saw that the horns of the ram always became entangled in the bushes. The ram became entangled in one shrub and freed itself, only to immediately be caught in another shrub. Noting this phenomenon, Hashem told Avraham, “Similarly your children will be ensnared and trapped by one exile after another. They will go from Bavel, to Media, onto Greece, and lastly to Rome. In the end they will finally be redeemed by the Shofar sound of this ram’s horn.” This Midrash seems enigmatic. Why would Hashem choose this moment to tell Avraham the bad news…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5753

“And Hashem tested Avraham.” (22:1)

Chazal state that this was the tenth time that Hashem tested Avraham Avinu’s devotion. The first nine tests were only preparations for the Akeidah, the ultimate test of faith. Horav Nissan Alpert, z.l., offers two insights regarding the Akeidah which shed light on this incident and its ramifications for the future of our People. Throughout Avraham’s previous tests, he clearly displayed his tenacious devotion and utter loyalty to Hashem’s imperative. Indeed, in Uhr Kasdim he was prepared to die for his belief. At the Akeidah, however, he indicated his willingness to give up all that he possessed for Hashem. All…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5753

And it was after these words and Hashem tested Avraham (22:1)

Rashi cites the Talmud in Sanhedrin 89b which explains that these words apply to the “words” of the Satan. The Satan attempted to condemn Avraham for not offering a sacrifice to Hashem during the plentiful banquet he had arranged in honor of Yitzchak. Hashem responded to the Satan, “Even if I had told him to sacrifice his own son, he would do it! Did he not make the whole banquet in honor of his son?” Hashem immediately commanded Avraham to perform the Akeidah. The fact that Avraham did not offer any form of sacrifice seems puzzling. While he had the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5753

And Yitzchak said to Avraham, his father, father where is the lamb for the sacrifice? (22:7)

Avraham Avinu reached the pinnacle of avodas Hashem, service of Hashem, during the Akeidas Yitzchak. He was asked to act upon his boundless love for Hashem by demonstrating his willingness to offer his beloved son Yitzchak as a sacrifice. The enthusiasm, zeal, and love which Avraham demonstrated throughout this endeavor continue to serve as an eternal merit for his children until this day. The Midrash portrays Yitzchak as a partner equal to his father throughout this major trial fully aware of what was transpiring. The Midrash relates that the Satan cleverly attempted to lure the pair into failure in their…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5752

“And Hashem appeared to him and he sat in the doorway of the tent.” (18:1)

Rashi explains that in order to spare Avraham the burden of guests during his recovery from the bris milah, Hashem removed the sun from its “container.” Upon seeing him grieve because of a lack of visitors, however, He brought the angels to Avraham in human form. It seems puzzling that Hashem would send angels instead of humans. Would it not have been more appropriate to send poor people rather than angels, thereby allowing Avraham to perform the actual mitzvah of tzedakah (charity) and hachnasas orchim (hospitality for wayfarers)? We may derive an important lesson from the meaning of these very…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5752

“And Hashem said, the cry of Sodom and Amorrah is great, and their sin is exceedingly great.” (18:20)

We should consider the extent of Sodom’s sins vis-a-vis the various other cities whose transgressions were also great. Indeed, the Baal Ha’Akeidah states that the famed sin of vgcdc adkp was far greater than those of Sodom, for in Sodom they allowed visitors to sleep in the street, while in Givhah even this was not permissible. There was however, a uniqueness to Sodom’s transgressions. Their immoral behavior originated from a depraved philosophy which later became a code of law. Their fear of having their lush, fertile land overrun with visitors caused them to legislate and enact the repulsive statutes for…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Vayeira, 5752

“Fear not for Hashem has listened to the voice of the boy in the condition he is now.” (21:17)

After being ordered out of Avraham’s house, Hagar and her son Yishmael stumbled through the wilderness. Yishmael became feverish and drank all the water available to quench his burning thirst. He could no longer walk by himself and his mother could not hold him any longer. She put him down under a bush, and moved away to pray for his life saying, “I can no longer watch the child dying.” Yishmael also prayed and Hashem responded to his prayer, not Hagar’s. This is because Yishmael had the merit of being Avraham’s son, and also because he performed teshuva (repentance) at…

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And Hashem appeared unto him (Avraham) in Elonei Mamre . . . and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold three men stood over him and he ran to meet them . . . and he took curd and milk and the calf which he prepared and set it before them. (18:1,2,8)

For I have known him to the end that he may command his children and his household after him. (18:19)

On the third day, Avraham lifted up his eyes and he saw the place from afar and Avraham said to his young men, abide you here with the donkey. (22:4,5)

And Avraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a ram afterwards caught in the thicket by his horns . . . and he took the ram and brought him up for a burnt-offering instead of his son. (22:13)

“And Hashem tested Avraham.” (22:1)

And it was after these words and Hashem tested Avraham (22:1)

And Yitzchak said to Avraham, his father, father where is the lamb for the sacrifice? (22:7)

“And Hashem appeared to him and he sat in the doorway of the tent.” (18:1)

“And Hashem said, the cry of Sodom and Amorrah is great, and their sin is exceedingly great.” (18:20)

“Fear not for Hashem has listened to the voice of the boy in the condition he is now.” (21:17)

YEARS

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